Artist&#39;s water color kit



June 25, 1968 c. E. THOMAS 3,389,945

ARTIST'S WATER COLOR KIT Filed Aug. 24, 1966 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 IN VE/V TOR Gage/POLL E THOMAS A 7' TORNE Y June 25, 1968 c. E. THOMAS 3,389,945

ARTIST'S WATER COLOR KIT Filed Aug. 24,1966 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 E'g. 7. ZZZ 57. 8-

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47 51v VEN 7'0 CARROLL E. THOMAS ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,389,945 ARTTSTS WATER COLOR KIT Carroll E. Thomas, 157 Marina Blvd, San Rafael, Calif. 94901 Filed Aug. 24, 1966, Ser. No. 574,330 2 Claims. (Cl. 312231) ABSTRACT THE DTSCLOSURE The invention comprises the combination of a fiat base of ferrous metal, a fiat foldable easel pivotally connected at one end thereof to an end of the base; said easel being adapted to overlie said base when folded and being adapted to be unfolded and set up in an inclined position, together with a paint box for a variety of colored paints seated on said base, a magnet secured to the bottom of said paint box to hold the same against displacement, a removable lid on said paint box for conversion to a palette when supported on the base in a reverse position, a magnet on the upper side of said lid for contacting said base to hold the lid normally against displacement, adjustable spring clips on said paint box to engage with said clips being adapted to be released from said lid and swinging to downwardly extending positions to support brackets at either or both ends of said box, and Water containers supported by the brackets.

This invention, generally, relates to artists equipment and more particularly to a painters kit compactly packaged for convenience in carrying and embodying an easily set up easel having a supporting base to hold securely a partitioned box containing various colored paints, a convertible top for the box to provide a palette for mixing the paints and a combined water container and indicator to guide an artist in holding the easel in a suitably inclined position while applying paint to a paper or canvas sheet supported on the easel.

One of the objects of the present invention is to provide an artists kit of the kind characterized, including a combination supporting base and easel which is adapted to be folded compactly for convenience in carrying but which may be easily set up to provide a sheet supporting easel adapted to be manually held in an artists hand while the other hand is used in painting on the sheet, the combination including means to guide an artist in maintaining the easel in a predetermined inclined position with respect to the base and the base being adapted to support a paint box, a paint mixing palette and a combined water container and level indicator adapted to provide a supply of water for paint mixing purposes while at the same time indicating the approximate degree of inclination of the easel so the artist may be guided in maintaining the sheet in a desirable position while applying paint thereto.

Another object of this invention is to provide an artists kit including a combination easel and base member connected together and arranged for folding into a compact pocket-carrying package and adapted to be easily set up to provide a sheet supporting easel and a base to support painting paraphernalia, the easel having extensible members to accommodate sheets of various sizes and also having means to support a brush-cleaning cloth adjustably.

Other objects of my invention together with some of the advantageous features will appear from the following description of my improved artists kit. It is to be understood, however, that the embodiment of my invention herein shown and described is for purposes of illustration only, and that it is not to be regarded as exhaustive of the variations of the invention in the art.

In the accompanying drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the artists kit 3,389,945 Patented June 25, 1968 embodying my invention set up and in an operative position;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view showing the relative positions of the base and easel when in a set up operative position;

FIG. 3 is a side view of the pouch used to contain the kit, showing a part of a side of the pouch broken away to disclose a part of the kit contained therein;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the water container supporting bracket, it being shown in a compacted position;

FIG. 5 is a similar view showing the water container bracket in an open position;

FIG. 6 is a detailed sectional view of portions of the base and easel, showing the means for maintaining these elements in operative positions;

FIG. 7 is a bottom plan view of the folded base, easel and extension easel, plate showing a portion of the base broken away;

FIG. 8 is a top plan view of the folded base, easel and extension easel plate;

FIG. 9 is a longitudinal sectional view on an enlarged scale of the paint box and its contents; and

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the base and easel, showing a sheet supported on the easel and a wiping cloth thereon; and

FIG. 11 is a vertical sectional view on an enlarged scale, taken through the water container and a portion of the paint box.

Referring to the drawings, the numeral 10 designates a flat base of substantially rectangular shape made from sheet steel and having secured to one end thereof a hinge plate 11 formed with eyes 12 to receive a hinge pin 13. Also pivotally connected to the hinge pin is another hinge plate 14 having eyes 15 through which the hinge pin extends. Suitably secured to the hinge plate 14 is a flat easel 16 which is arranged for swinging movement to a folded position overlying the base 10 and from such folded position to a set up position wherein it is disposed at approximately thirty-five degrees with respect to the base. The hinge plate 11 is provided with a number of short extensions 17, which are suitably shaped and arranged to engage with the hinge plate 14 to provide stop means for limiting the rearward swinging movement of the easel 16 beyond its aforesaid set up position. The easel 16 is substantially rectangular and approximately the same size as the base 10, and when swung downwardly it overlies the base compactly. To enable an artist to grasp and hold the easel 16 conveniently in either hand, while painting with the other hand, the easel 16 is formed at its opposite side edges with suitably shaped grooves 18, which are preferably, although not necessarily, of the same shape. The easel 16 is provided between the grooves 18 and adjacent the hinge connection with an opening 19 and a downwardly extending tongue 20, this arrangement providing means for adequately supporting a wiping cloth 21 used by an artist to remove excess paint from a paint brush. The cloth extends under the tongue and over the portions of the easel 16 lying between the opening 19 and the grooves 18. An artist, when holding the easel 16, also usually grasps the cloth with his hand, but when needed, a clean portion of the cloth may be made available by pulling the same either to the right or to the left to shift its position suitably and thereby provide the artist with a considerably exposed clean portion for wiping the paint brush thereon.

To increase the area of the easel 16 so that a large sheet A of paper, canvas or other material may be suitably supported thereon, I have pivotally attached an extensible, rectangular auxiliary easel plate 22 to such easel as at 23. The easel 16 and the auxiliary plate 22 are of substantially the same overall size, and the pivot member 23, which may be in the form of a rivet, is so arranged and positioned that the said plate may be swung from a folded position coinciding with the easel to either of two extended positions as shown in FIGS. 1 and 10. Pivotally attached to the easel 16 adjacent the lateral edges thereof as by rivets 24 and 25 are adjustable extension strips 26 and 27, respectively. The extension strips 26 and 27 are adapted to swing outwardly in opposite directions to positions projecting beyond the lateral edges of the easel, as shown in FIG. 1, thereby considerably enlarging the lateral supporting area of the easel so a sheet A of considerable Width may be mounted thereon and held against displacement by suitable spring clips 28 or other adequate means.

Pivotally attached to the auxiliary easel plate 22 near the upper corners thereof (FIG. 1) as by rivets 29 and 30 are extension strips 31 and 32, respectively. The extension strips 31 and 32 are adapted to swing upwardly to positions projecting above the upwardly extending easel plate 22, thereby considerably increasing the height of the supporting area of the easel so a sheet A of considerable height may be mounted thereon and held against displacement by a pair of spring clips 28.

When the auxiliary plate 22 and the extension strips 31 and 32 are adjusted to the positions shown in FIG. 10, a sheet A of considerable lateral dimensions may be supported on the easel.

The base, easel and auxiliary easel plate preferably have the same rectangular shape and dimensions so they may be folded into a compact assembly with these elements overlying one another, and while the precise dimensions may vary, I have found that for convenience in carrying and also in manually holding the set up assembly while painting, it is desirable that the dimensions of these elements be approximately 4 by 4% inches.

Comprising parts of the artists kit is a paint box 33 made from metal or a suitable plastic material and having a removable partitioned tray 34 fitting therein. The tray is suitably partitioned as at 35 to provide a plurality of compartments for holding differently colored water color paints 36. Fitting on the box 33 is a lid 37 which is provided with a gasket 38 to engage with the upper edges of the box to form an air-tight seal for the purpose of preventing the paints 36 from drying excessively. Secured to the bottom of the paint box 33 is a magnet 39 which functions in cooperative relationship with the steel base to prevent the displacement of the box normally when the latter is supported on such base. When removed from the box 33 and suitably supported on the base 10 in a reversed or upside down position, the lid 37 provides a palette for mixing paints. Secured to the upper side of the lid 37 (FIG. 9) is a magnet 40 which is adapted to function in cooperative relation with the steel base to prevent the displacement of the lid normally. When an artist is painting and holding the easel in his hand, it is preferable to position the heavier paint box 33 near the hinge end of the base 10 with the lighter lid 37 positioned adjacent the other end of such base as shown in FIG. 1. On the other hand, when the base is resting on a table or other horizontal support, it is preferable to reverse the relative positions of the box and lid so the heavier paint box will be positioned to counteract the weight of the easel and sheet and normally prevent the tipping of the assembly while the artist applies paint to the sheet. The box 33 is slightly longer than the width of the base so that one or more water containers 41 of the type embodied in the present invention may be supported on either or both ends of the box, as will be later described.

To hold the lid 37 firmly on the paint box 33, I have provided on opposite ends of the box a pair of spring clamping clips or keepers 42 of identical shape and construction, which are mounted for upwardly and downwardly swinging movement on eye brackets 43 suitably secured to the opposite ends of the box. The clips or keepers 42 are made from lengths of spring steel wire which are each similarly bent to provide a pivoted member 42a extending through an eye bracket, and L-shaped legs 42b connecting 42a with an end member 420 which is arranged in parallel relation to 42a. Rotatably mounted on the end member 42c of each of the spring clips or keepers 42 is a sleeve 44 which, when the clip is swung upwardly and inwardly, is adapted to ride over a raised rectangular peripheral rim 37a on the lid 35 and snap downwardly into a groove 37b to maintain the lid securely in a closed position on the box. The L-shaped legs 42b of the spring clips 42 are adapted to provide the necessary spring action to hold the sleeves 44 in firm clamping relation with the box lid 37. When the spring clips 42 are swung outwardly and downwardly to release the lid and thereby permit its removal from the box, the sleeves 44 are then adapted to assume positions extending outwardly from and slightly below the ends of such box, with the legs 42b of the clips then being positioned alongside the said box ends. When so positioned, the spring clips 42 are then adapted to support foldable brackets 45 at the ends of the box, Which in turn are adapted to hold and support the water containers 41. In FIG. 1, there is shown a bracket 45 and a supported water container 41 positioned at the right hand end of the paint box 33, but since the spring clips 42 are identical, the said brackets and water containers may be positioned at either or both ends of the paint box. When two containers are mounted at both ends of the paint box, one may be used to supply water to wash a paint brush and the other to supply clean water for paint mixing purposes. The arrangement for supporting one or more water containers makes it possible for either a right or left hand artist to use the water supplying facilities satisfactorily. The bracket 45 comprises two U-shaped members 46 and 47 of unequal lengths which are pivotally attached together as at 48. The U- shaped members 46 and 47 are adapted to be adjusted with respect to each other so that the shorter of such members is positioned with its central portion overlying the central portion of the longer member as shown in FIG. 4. When the members 46 and 47 are adjusted to relative positions in which their central portions extend at right angles to each other, as shown in FIG. 5, a cradle is formed to receive and hold the water container 41. So that the water container may be supported in a suitably secure position when the artist is holding the easel, the bottom of such container is preferably formed with a transverse groove to receive the central portion of the U-shaped member 46. One of the legs of the U-shaped member 46 is formed at its upper end with an inverted U-shaped member 46a which is adapted to receive the sleeve 44 of either of the clips or keepers 42. Extending outwardly from 4611 is a horizontal extension 461; which is arranged to underlie and engage with the base 10 to hold the bracket 45 in a position to support the water container 41 suitably. The Water container is made from a suitable translucent plastic material which enables an artist to observe the consistent horizontal water level. Extending around the upper portion of the Water container is an opaque indicator strip or mark 49 which is horizontally disposed and so arranged that the upper surface of the body of water in the container preferably coincides with the lower horizontal edge of such indicator strip. The bracket 45 is so constructed that when the extension 46]) thereof is in engagement with the underneath side of the base 10 and such base is in a horizontal position, the lower edge of the indicator strip or mark 49 will coincide with or will be in parallel relation with the water level. Thus an artist when holding the easel 16 in one hand and painting with the other can readily observe the relative positions of the water level and the indicator strip to determine whether the easel is being held at an angle of about thirty-five degrees with respect to the horizontal. It has been found that if the sheet A is supported in a position at approximately thirty-five degrees with respect to the horizontal, the water color paints when applied thereto will not run or spread downwardly excessively, a result which is undesirable in painting.

What I claim is:

1. An artists kit comprising in combination:

(a) A fiat base of ferrous metal;

(b) A fiat easel of substantially the same size and shape as the base, the said case] being pivotally connected at an end thereof and to an end of the base, the said easel being adjustable to a folded position overlying the base and to an inclined set up position;

(c) A paint box containing a variety of colored paints and adapted to be supported on the base when the base and easel are in the set up position, the paint box having:

(1) A magnet secured to the bottom side thereof to make contact with the base to provide cooperative magnetic action to hold the box normally against displacement on the base; and

(2) A removable lid adapted to be converted into a palette when supported on the base in a reverse position, the lid having:

(a) A magnet secured to the upper side of such lid, the said magnet being adapted to make contact with the base to provide cooperative magnetic action to hold the lid normally against displacement on the base;

(d) Adjustable spring clips mounted on opposite ends of the box to engage with the lid to secure such lid on the box, the said clips when released from the lid being adapted to swing to downwardly extending positions to support brackets at either or both ends of the box; and

(e) Water containers supported by the brackets.

2. An artists kit according to claim 1 wherein an opaque indicating mark extends horizontally around the upper portion of each water container, and said containers are translucent, whereby an artists may observe the relative positions of the water level of water held in a container and the opaque indicating mark thereon.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,854,721 4/1932 Swain 312233 X 3,077,977 2/1963 Wood 2061.7 3,123,935 3/1964 Williams l0843 X 3,186,539 6/1965 Sims 312231 X 3,280,966 10/1966 Boniface 2O61.7

CASMIR A. NUNBERG, Primary Examiner. 

